Everyday Rosary Newsletter Vol.2, Issue #06 -- How To Hold On To The Final Weeks Of Summer

August 1, 2010

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Summer Greetings!

The monthly Everyday Rosary Newsletter is brought to you from the
How-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com
website. In each issue you will find Rosary inspirations, new meditations, feature articles and ideas that support your prayer life, a calendar of upcoming Rosary Feast Days, and how to incorporate your faith in other holidays. Plus stories on how the Rosary has affected the lives of others and what people are doing to promote the Rosary. It will also keep you up-to-date on information added to the site. It is your monthly dose of Rosary inspiration!

Table of Contents

A Note From The Editor:

It is already August. Soon the children will be going back to school and the lazy days of summer will be past. If you vamped up your devotional life this summer, don't let it slide in the busy months to come. Hopefully during the Month of Mary (May) you rededicated yourself to praying a daily Rosary. During June you devoted yourself to the Sacred Heart and during July you began devotions to the Precious Blood of Our Lord. Read on to find inspiration on how to keep up all these different devotions during August and in the months to come.

Articles

Did The Blessed Mother Die?

August is the month of the Assumption. The event of the Assumption was dogmatically declared and defined by Pope Pius XII as when "the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." When defining this truth, he thereby proclaimed the Assumption Catholic dogma in the year 1950 in the encyclical Munificentissimus Deus. Long before declared dogmatic teaching, the Assumption of Mary was a belief held in the early church and has been long celebrated on August 15th.

The words used by the Holy Father, "having completed the course of her earthly life", leave room for debate as to whether the Blessed Mother died or whether she was assumed into Heaven before her death. Theologians disagree as to whether Mary died before the Assumption.

St. Alphosus Ligouri makes a strong case in support of Our Lady first experiencing death. He writes,

"Death is a punishment for sin. It would seem therefore that our Blessed Mother, who was all holy and free from all fault, should also have been exempt from death and that she would not have to experience the misfortunes the sons of Adam are subject to as a result of their infection by the poison of sin. But God wanted Mary to resemble Jesus in all things. Jesus died. It was fitting therefore that His Mother should also die. Moreover, since He wished to provide the just with an example of the precious death that would be theirs, He willed that the Blessed Virgin should die a death that was sweet and happy." p. 80 The Glories of Mary volume 1 part 2. (You will find a link to The Glories of Mary in the Resource section of this newsletter)

Numerous mystics have recounted their visions and private revelations of the death and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Among these are St. Elizabeth, St. John Damascene, St. Bridget and St. Andrew of Crete. (A book containing the sermons on the Assumption by St. John Damascene can be found in the Resource Section of this newsletter)

The early Fathers of the Church also held to the believe that Mary experienced death.

Nevertheless, the primary argument espoused by current theologians who hold to the belief that Mary never died is that because she was immaculately preserved from sin, she would not be liable to the penalties of sin which would include death.

Theologians agree that death is a punishment for sin. The debate boils down to whether Mary would have underwent death because Jesus did due to the fact that she resembled Him in all things or whether she was preserved from death because of her Immaculate Conception.

It is interesting to note that it has not been defined whether or not Mary was assumed into heaven after falling asleep in death or while she was still living. An interesting story has been told about Pius XII. While researching this very question as to whether or not the Blessed Virgin died first, he met a young boy. The boy told him that Mary had appeared to him and instructed him to tell the Holy Father not to define whether she died or not when he made the dogmatic declaration on the Assumption. This incident supposedly attributed to the vague wording Pope Pius used in the declaration.

Because there is no authoritatively defined theology as to whether Mary died before she was assumed into Heaven or not, either position can be legitimately held by faithful Catholics.

New Meditation on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"And if I shall go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself; that where I am, you also may be." -John 14:3

These words of Our Lord can be applied particularly to His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. And He fulfilled this promise to her when He assumed her body and soul into Heaven. He made this promise to you and I as well. It will be our reward if we follow Him faithfully.

Top Picks

The Litany of Loreto

The Litany of Loreto is the most popular Marian litany. It was approved by the Church in 1587 and given for all time supreme ecclesiastical sanction. Which makes it more than a private devotion. Different titles have been added to the litany with the most recent being added in 1995 by Pope John Paul II being "Queen of the Family". You may want to pray this litany during the Month of the Assumption.

Litany of Loreto

Lord, have mercy on us. (Christ have mercy on us.)
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. (Christ graciously hear us.)
God, the Father of heaven, (have mercy on us.)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (have mercy on us.)

Holy Mary, (pray for us...)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renouned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of the family,
Queen of Peace,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.)

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. (That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.)

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Chrsit our Lord. (Amen.)

How To Checklist

How To Keep Your Summer Devotions Alive During The Busy Months To Come

Keep a small May altar up in your home and freshen it with some simple flowers or a candle. Pray the Rosary in front of it once a week, on Saturdays perhaps.

Keep assisting at Mass on First Fridays and go to adoration once a week or once per month at least.

Before praying, pray the Purification Prayer of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, "Almighty Father, I place the Precious Blood of Jesus before my lips before I pray, that my prayers may be purified before they ascend to Thy divine altar."

Calendar Of Upcoming Feast Days

St. John Vianney - August 4th
Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Read more about him by clicking here...

A novena that is customarily prayed from July 27th to St. John Vianney's feast day of August 4th can be found here...

The Transfiguration of the Lord - August 6th
The fourth Luminous Mystery of the Rosary is celebrated on this day. This is one of the great feast days of Our Lord which is a remembrance of when Jesus was transfigured into a glorious state before Peter, James and John on Mount Tabor. This event was a foreshadowing of Jesus' coming glory in order to strengthen Peter, James and John so they could endure the sorrow that had to come before Jesus' Triumph.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - August 15th
The fourth Glorious Mystery of the Rosary is celebrated on this day. This glorious feast is a holy day of obligation. It commemorates the day Jesus took His Blessed Mother Mary, body and soul up to Heaven where He had a place prepared for her. The entire month of August is dedicated to this great feast.

Franciscan Crown Rosary - The Franciscan Crown is also known as the Rosary of the Seven Joys of Mary. It dates from the year 1422, when a young man was admitted to the Franciscan Order. He had previously been accustomed to adorning a statue of the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of fresh flowers as a mark of his devotion. On entering the Franciscans, he was not permitted to continue this pious act and so he decided to leave the Order. But Our Lady appeared to him and asked him to recite seven decades of the Rosary instead in honor of her seven joys, thus weaving a crown more pleasing to her. The seven joys of Mary are:

The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Ligouri -
The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) is one of the greatest Catholic books ever written. Actually, it is five complete books in one volume. Here the great Doctor of the Church has assembled the very finest information about Our Lady that he could find, all taken from the many writings of Saints, Doctors of the Church and other holy authors, as well as from Sacred Scripture.

The first book (called the "First Part") explains the words of the Salve Regina (the "Hail Holy Queen"), showing how God has given Mary to mankind to be the "Gate of Heaven," even for those who may presently be entrenched in mortal sin. The second book explains Our Lady's principal feasts - the Immaculate Conception, Nativity, Purification, Annunciation, Assumption, etc. - revealing to the reader's mind fresh truths about these mysteries in her life. The third book explains the Seven Sorrows of Mary, showing why Our Lady's "martyrdom" was longer and greater than that of all other martyrs. The fourth book describes the ten different virtues of Our Lady, and the fifth book gives dozens of famous prayers, meditations and devotions to her.

Actually, The Glories of Mary contains even more than all the above, for St. Alphonsus' books are always packed with treasures on every page. For example, he also includes here the theological proofs for the Immaculate Conception, explanations of the mysterious invocations in the Litany of Loreto, and a description of Our Lady's death. In all, The Glories of Mary amounts to nothing less than the greatest compendium of nearly 18 centuries of Catholic teaching on and devotion to Our Lady. Easily understood by all, this famous book is undoubtedly the best composite of teaching about the Blessed Virgin Mary ever penned and is one that will lead many souls to a greater love of Jesus through a more intimate knowledge of Mary and her exalted role in our salvation.

CD's

Gate Of Heaven - The Necessity Of Marian Devotion, Fr. Shannon Collins, CPM - According to famed Christian apologist CS Lewis, the Blessed Virgin Mary was too controversial to be included in his vision of "Mere Christianity". But is Mary really a source of division in the body of Christ? Or is she an essential part of God's plan and therefore essential to Jesus' work of redemption? In a word, is devotion to Mary necessary for salvation?

One Thing is Needful

You'll find the authentic answer in an extraordinary new three CD (or cassette) series by Fr. Shannon Collins, CPM, Rector of Mother Angelica's Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery. In Gate of Heaven: The Necessity of Marian Devotion you'll rediscover the great importance of devotion to Our Lady and what it means to your own spiritual life. Although devotion to saints such as the Little Flower, Padre Pio, St. Anthony, St. Francis and so on are good and helpful, you'll learn why only devotion to Mary is truly essential.

Salvation Equation

As you listen to these inspiring talks you'll encounter teaching from the Scriptures, the Fathers of the Church, the lives of the saints and historic Papal encyclicals that will rekindle your dedication to Mary like never before. With humor, sincerity and profound insight, Fr. Collins will enlighten you on such misunderstood topics as Mary as Co-Redemptrix and spouse of the Holy Spirit. You'll come to see how and why Our Blessed Mother was essential in ushering in the age of sanctification. Plus, you'll learn the truth about Mary's relationship with the Holy Trinity and the powerful effect it has on working out your own salvation.

Unchanging Teaching

You owe it to yourself to rediscover the power of Mary's love. As you explore ancient traditions, unchanging doctrines, beautiful hymns and more, you'll discern the intimate connection between devotion to Mary and devotion to Jesus as you come to more fully understand Our Lady's special role in the life of Christ and in your life. Order Gate of Heaven: The Necessity of Marian Devotion today and begin your journey to the heart of Jesus through devotion to Mary.

Mary the Mother of God DVD - She was a humble girl from an ordinary Jewish family. Yet Mary came to be exalted as the Mother of God, and the Queen of Heaven. In this newest release of the Footprints of God series, follow Mary's extraordinary journey in this inspiring film shot on location in Israel, Turkey and Greece, with popular Catholic author Stephen Ray as your guide. Together, you'll travel the dusty paths that took Mary to the heart of the salvation story. Discovering the Mary of the Bible will help you know and love her Son. You'll clearly understand Mary's Immaculate Conception, her role of intercessor, her Assumption into Heaven and more. All in an energized, high-impact adventure that's a travel documentary, biography, Bible study, apologetics course and Church history study! A comprehensive Study Guide included. Join the adventure!

Miscellaneous

Assumption of the Virgin 8.5" x 11" framed print - This beautiful painting entitled Assumption of the Virgin was painted in approximately 1670 by the great Spanish artist Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617 - 1682). It is part of the permanent collection at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Important Links

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Q&A

These two questions were taken from our Ask A Rosary Question Section at How-to-pray-the-Rosary-everyday.com

I'm very busy but aim to pray the Rosary everyday. However, time is not on my side and so I skip the usual introductory and concluding prayers, I just disregard them and instantly pray the first decade of the Rosary. Is this way acceptable?

That is wonderful you try to pray the Rosary everyday regardless of your busy schedule.

When praying the Rosary, begin with the Sign of the Cross, the Apostles Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys, then announce the first mystery and continue on as usual. End the Rosary with the Hail Holy Queen and the Sign of the Cross. That is the method to praying a complete Rosary. Many people add the Prayer from the Breviary and the St. Michael Prayer but these are not necessary.

If you pray this way you will be saying six extra prayers. Time should permit this. I just timed myself saying these prayers along with the Sign of the Cross before and after and it took me exactly a minute and a half. Surely you can spare 1 minute and 30 seconds to say these introductory and concluding prayers.

Also consider praying the introductory prayers and the first two decades in the morning and the final three decades and the Hail Holy Queen in the evening. It is acceptable to break up your Rosary in this way if you don't have time to pray it all at once.

Keep persevering.

How do you ask requests from Mary through the recitation of the Holy Rosary? When should you ask these requests and in what manner?

When praying the Rosary, it is customary to mention any intentions or prayer requests after the introductory prayers and before the first mystery is announced using a formula such as, "I offer this Rosary for..." Use your own words and ask for whatever it is you need through Mary.

Please visit the Ask A Rosary Question section on the website and ask your questions. You are encouraged to answer questions that have been posted there as well.

Thank You!

I hope the final days of your summer are filled with peace and blessings from God.

Queen assumed into heaven, Pray for us!

To Jesus through Mary,

Kathleen Bowen and The Rosary Team

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